Country: Jamaica
Horace Andy, born Horace Keith Hinds on 19 February 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica, is a celebrated roots reggae singer and songwriter, renowned for his distinctive vocals and influential contributions to Jamaican music. He began recording in 1967 with his first single, “This is a Black Man’s Country,” but rose to prominence in the early 1970s with hits like “Skylarking,” “Government Land,” and “Children of Israel.” Adopting the stage name Horace Andy to avoid comparisons with his cousin Justin Hinds and to capitalize on the popularity of Bob Andy, he became a key figure in the development of reggae, recording with major producers such as Coxsone Dodd, Bunny Lee, and Phil Pratt. His work in the 1970s, especially with Bunny Lee, produced several classic singles that remain staples of the reggae canon. Andy relocated to the United States in 1977, recording the album In the Light with producer Everton DaSilva and later establishing his own Rhythm label. He was instrumental in the early rise of dancehall, with albums like Pure Ranking (1978) and Dance Hall Style (1982) marking the genre’s evolution. In the mid-1980s, he moved to London, recording both in the UK and Jamaica, maintaining a prolific output with a variety of producers. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he continued producing roots reggae while experimenting with new sounds and collaborations. From 1990 onward, Andy gained international acclaim through collaborations with the English trip hop group Massive Attack, contributing to five of their albums including the landmark Mezzanine (1998), with tracks like “Angel” and “Spying Glass.” He also collaborated with Mad Professor, 1 Giant Leap, and the Easy Star All-Stars, and continued releasing solo albums such as Living in the Flood (1999) and Mek It Bun (2002). In 2022, he released Midnight Rocker and Midnight Scorchers, followed by a collaborative album…
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